2018 NSF LTER Symposium: Understanding Our Ocean Connections

Each year, the National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network presents an overview of the rich and varied research taking place at its 28 sites. In 2018, the topic of this annual half-day symposium is ocean ecosystems and their connections to marine species and human well-being.

The symposium is open to all, but preregistration is required. Celebrate Earth Day by exploring our ocean connections. Download print flyer.

The Future of Coral Reefs: Does It Depend on Help from Fish? Deron Burkepile, UC Santa Barbara, NSF Mo’orea Coral Reef LTER Site

Coral reefs are a hub of marine biodiversity. They provide food, recreation and shoreline protection to some 1 billion people. But reefs around the globe have seen 50 to 90 percent declines in coral abundance, and forecasts of reef health have been dire. Long-term research by scientists at the NSF Mo’orea Coral Reef LTER Site shows that reducing nutrient pollution and fish overharvesting can help reefs resist and recover from the impacts of large-scale disturbances such as coral bleaching – and may help corals survive in a warming world.

Credit: Franco Tobias

The highest water levels ever recorded in the Shark River Slough after Hurricane Irma

Ecosystem health – like human health – is the result of a combination of chronic and short-term stresses. When will these stresses result in a stronger system, and when will they launch a downward spiral? Researchers at the NSF Florida Coastal Everglades LTER site combine field work, large-scale experiments, and ecological models to offer new answers. For example, they’re providing evidence that storms such as hurricanes can buffer the effects of increasing sea level rise. It all comes down to resilience, these scientists say.

Giant kelp is an example of a foundation species — one that physically modifies its environment and provides food and habitat for an entire ecological community. In contrast to long-lived foundation species such as forests, coral reefs and mangroves, giant kelp has a short life span, leading to fluctuations in its abundance and its genetics. Long-term research at the NSF Santa Barbara Coastal LTER Site is yielding new insights into how giant kelp populations vary and what impact they have coastal ecosystems.

How Do Tiny Plankton Turn into Fish on a Changing Northeast U.S. Shelf?Susanne Menden-Deuer, University of Rhode Island, NSF Northeast U.S. Shelf LTER Site

The Northeast U.S. Shelf generates millions of dollars in revenue from fishing, energy development and shipping. It’s also used for waste disposal, recreation and conservation. And almost 30 percent of the U.S. population lives along its shores. Researchers at the NSF Northeast U.S. Shelf LTER Site are melding historical records with long-term observations of the oceans, then combining them with mathematical models and large-scale experiments. The findings will ultimately inform the management of this productive ecosystem, from its phytoplankton and zooplankton to its commercially valuable fish.

Sustainability of Salt Marshes: Still a Realistic Goal?Merryl Alber, University of Georgia, NSF Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Site

Intertidal marshes – lands between the tides – are ever-changing ecosystems. They’ve kept pace with changes in sea level over millennia, but today’s rate of sea-level rise and increasingly common droughts and storms pose new challenges. An influx of saltwater, for example, has the potential to change how coastal marshes function – and may even threaten their existence. Experiments at the NSF Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Site, and comparisons with other NSF long-term research sites, are providing insights into the environmental and human factors that increase or decrease the effects of flooding from severe storms and sea-level rise. Can salt marshes stay resilient in the face of such changes?

Credit: Donna Fraser

Chinstrap penguins, Dream Island, Western Antarctic Peninsula.

Life on Ever-Shrinking Sea Ice: A Penguin’s Perspective Bill Fraser, Polar Oceans Research Group, Oregon State University, NSF Palmer Station LTER Site

The Western Antarctic Peninsula is among the most rapidly warming regions on Earth. Mid-winter temperatures have increased, on average, by more than six degrees Celsius over the last six decades, resulting in melting of sea ice and changes in the timing of seasonal events such as when the ice first freezes for the winter season and when it thaws in the Antarctic spring. Species such as Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo penguins use sea ice differently. Their responses to the warming of Antarctica are leading to new insights into changing food webs in one of the planet’s most distant places.